8-18-22 Emerald Media - Duck Season | Football

The Emerald Media Group Presents

AUGUST 2022

GET TO KNOW OREGON’S 2023

RECRUITING CLASS Oregon opens football season with star-studded recruits

AWARD WINNING

BURGERS & COMFORT FOOD

SAFE DINING EXPERIENCE

OPEN

11am-9pm Sun-Thur.

11am-10pm Fri-Sat

INDOORS and outdoors

CURBSIDE PICKUP ORDER ONLINE AT

cornucopiaeugene.com DELIVERED BY

521 Main St. Springfield OR. 97477 (541) 485 2879

207 E 5th AVE. EUGENE OR. 97401 (541) 485 2676

295 W. 17th Ave. Eugene 97401 (541) 485 2300

Eugene’s Weekly Handcrafted Marketplace

Every Saturday X Rain or Shine X 10am-4pm X 8th & Oak eugenesaturdaymarket.org

2

|

Duck Season 2022

541-686-8885

Duck Season 2022

DuckSeason, the Emerald’s quarterly sports magazine, is published by Emerald Media Group, Inc., the independent nonprofit news company at the University of Oregon. Formerly the Oregon Daily Emerald, the news organization was founded in 1900.

EMERALD MEDIA GROUP

COPY CHIEF:LOGAN ROBERTSON

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES:

PHOTO EDITOR: MADDIE STELLINGWERF

R I L E Y VA L L E , K E AT O N R O B E R T S , M A X

PHOTOGRAPHERS: MADDIE

GOLDENBERG, JOSH DELAPENA

S T E L L I N G W E R F, M A D D I E K N I G H T, S E R E I HENDRIE, IAN ENGER, DL YOUNG

ON THE COVER

DESIGN EDITOR: LIZ BLODGETT

YELLOW TEAM EXPLODES OUT OF THEIR

D E S I G N E R S : P AY T O N L I E B E LT, M I A R A D O S T I T Z ,

SIDE OF THE FIELD TO THE SOUNDS OF

ESTHER SZETO

CHEERIN G FANS. T HE OREGON FOOT BALL TEAM COMPETES IN IT’S ANNUAL SPRING

1 2 2 2 E . 1 3 T H AV E . , # 3 0 0 ,

BUSINESS

E U GEN E , O R 974 0 3 , 5 41 . 3 4 6 .55 1 1 ,

PRESIDENT & PUBLISHER:

S TA D I U M I N E U G E N E , O R E .

D A I LY E M E R A L D . C O M

BILL KUNERTH X317

(SEREI HENDRIE /EMER AL D)

NEWSROOM

G A M E O N A P R I L 2 3 R D , 2 0 2 2 AT A U T Z E N

V I C E P R E S I D E N T, O P E R AT I O N S : K AT H Y C A R B O N E X 3 0 2

EDITOR IN CHIEF: HANNAROSE MCGUINNESS MANAGING EDITOR: BRANDON ROTH

ADVERTISING

SPORTS EDITOR: MOJO HILL, AARON HEISON

STUDENT SALES MANAGER

W R I T E R S : B R A D Y R U T H , K E I J I PAT T E R S O N ,

AMY MENDEZ

JACK AARON, JACOB HAMRE, ELLIOT T DEINS

Contents

4 6 9

WHICH OPTION SUITS

OREGON BEST AS NCAA CONFERENCE SHUFFLING BEGINS? 2023 RECRUITS JOIN THE FLOCK

ROSTER PREVIEW: RUNNING BACK ROOM MORE OPEN THAN EVER

10 13 14 15

(SEREI HENDRIE /EMER AL D)

TAKE A LOOK AT THE 2022 FOOTBALL SCHEDULE

2021 FOOTBALL HIGHLIGHTS

2022 OREGON DUCKS OFFENSIVE PREVIEW

WHAT DOES GEORGIA BRING TO THE TABLE AGAINST THE DUCKS? Duck Season 2022 |

3

WHICH OPTION SUITS OREGON BEST AS NCAA CONFERENCE SHUFFLING BEGINS? Looking at the pros and cons of Oregon football’s new conference options with the future of NCAA football cloudy as ever.

BY BRADY RUTH

Ducks outside linebacker Mase Funa (47) grabs and holds onto the feet of a Trojan. Oregon Ducks football take on USC Trojans in the Pac-12 Championship game at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, Calif., on Dec. 18, 2020.

(Maddie Knight/Emerald)

Earlier this summer, long tenured Pac-12 schools USC and UCLA announced their plans to join the Big 10; sending West Coast college football into a frenzy.

Super conferences appear to be the future of college football with the SEC, Big 10 and Big 12 all set to expand over the next five seasons. On the other hand, the Pac12 is shrinking and so the question must be asked: what happens to the University of Oregon?

The following theories and offers are ordered from what looks to be the best option to the worst.

REMAIN IN THE PAC-12 : Oregon could choose the simple option of staying put in the conference that has included the Ducks since its inception in 1915. But is the easiest option the best, especially with the money decreasing?

PRO: Boasting a 327-298-25 record all-time against the teams set to stay in the Pac-12, Oregon could absolutely become the top dog of the conference. Especially with the program’s recent success winning a conference leading four championships.

CON: The two programs that left are such storied and renowned teams and without the big names in the conference, the Pac-12 could easily slip under the radar of the nation. But potentially more importantly, the conference will be bringing in less money. An article from Sports Illustrated reports that with USC and UCLA the conference was expected to bring in nearly $500 million per year, or an average of $42 million per team.

That number could drop to as low as $300 million and $30 million per remaining team with the SoCal duo’s departure. The Pac-12 would weaken with respect to talent, money and recognition.

BOTTOM LINE: Oregon could likely be a dominant force in a much weaker conference. It worked for Clemson. It could work for the Ducks, but if it doesn’t, the Pac-12 could quickly become forgotten. If Oregon senses a clearer path to the College Football Playoff elsewhere, it wouldn’t make sense to stay.

JOIN THE BIG 12 : Reports from sources like The Athletic have surfaced that Oregon, Washington, Colorado, Utah, Arizona and Arizona State are discussing leaving the Pac12 to join the Big 12.

PRO: A rigorous schedule filled with opponents from Washington to West Virginia would ensure that the conference champion would be a high-caliber team.

Should Oregon be able to find success in the Big 12, it would likely receive national recognition like the program has only seen once before during its 2015 playoff run.

CON: Money. 247Sports reported that the Pac-12 was the third “richest” conference in 2020, bringing in over $533 million dollars. The Big 12 was ranked No. 5, making $409 million, the least amount of any Power Five conference. It could be a huge mistake to go to a less wealthy conference 4

|

Duck Season 2022

if the Pac-12 is still going to be pulling in money from TV deals, especially if Oregon will have to split those funds with the 17 other teams in this proposed super conference.

BOTTOM LINE: Joining the Big 12 would open new doors for Oregon, but with the severe decrease in income, it may not be worth the move.

FOLLOW USC AND UCLA TO THE BIG 10 : There are many rumors saying that the Big 10 is looking to add Oregon and Washington along with the newly acquired UCLA and USC. It’s far more likely that the Big 10 will pursue the independent Notre Dame, which has its own television deal with NBC. If the Big 10 can’t get Notre Dame to switch, it could start looking at schools like Oregon and Washington.

PRO: Money. The Big 10 was the conference with the most dough in the aforementioned rankings. The Ducks would also increase their views nationwide. The Medium reported that in 2021, three of the top four most watched programs hailed from the Big 10. Oregon ranked 10th in views at 2.57 million but could definitely benefit from more national exposure.

CON: The competition. The Big 10 is good, really good.

Historically, Oregon has struggled against the Big 10, showing a .397 winning percentage all time against current Big 10 teams, including newly-added USC and UCLA. The Ducks could quickly sink to the middle of the conference and kill the momentum that it feels the program has been building for years now.

BOTTOM LINE: History would not be on the side of Oregon should it decide to move to the Big 10, but there would be a nice upgrade in cash and exposure. Besides, Oregon is trending up right now, maybe the Ducks could really soar in the Midwest.

ATLANTIC COAST CONFERENCE MERGER : This would be an absolute super conference. The two conferences are in conversation about a potential partnership or merger.

This would be a conference with the size and TV deals to compete with the SEC and Big 10.

PRO: Size. It would be neat to have a conference that literally spans from Seattle to Miami. Suddenly, East Coast fans would have a vested interest in what happens out in California. The local TV markets would now pull views from three time zones away. Size would bring in money and it’s not unreasonable to think that Oregon would be an upper third team.

CON: Travel. Flying athletes across the country every other week just to keep up with the SEC doesn’t seem overly feasible. There are also rumors that some ACC teams are leaving to join the ACC in the near future so the merger likely wouldn’t last more than a few seasons.

BOTTOM LINE: The East vs West Coast “rivalry” would be cool, and it would definitely benefit Oregon basketball to get to play teams like Duke and North Carolina, but this is a football article and a merger seems like more of a hassle than a solution. This may not be the most realistic long term answer and seems more like a quick fix.

Of course, this is all speculation. While a short term TV deal through 2026 with the Pac-12 seems the most likely right now, it does open up many options for the upcoming seasons of Duck football. So much is unclear in the future of NCAA conferences, but Oregon has options. It comes down to the waiting and the bidding and the powers that be to determine the future of football in Eugene.

Duck Season 2022 |

5

The oregon offensive line redies for a snap. Oregon Ducks Football takes on the Trojans at The Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on Nov. 2, 2019. (DL Young/Emerald)

2023 2023 Recruits Recruits Join The Flock Oregon received their highest quarterback commitment in Dante Moore

BY Keiji Patterson Oregon football has received 12 verbal commitments this recruiting cycle. Its class is ranked No. 15 in the country and second in the Pac-12 conference, with an average commit rating of 91.60, according to 247Sports.

Here is a breakdown of each commits’ 247 composite rankings and how they will factor into Oregon’s roster when they enroll for the 2023 season.

3-star Collin Gill, Cornerback

A native of our nation’s capital, 3-star cornerback Collin Gill is the lowest rated recruit in the class as he’s ranked as the No. 114 corner in the country. On the contrary, Gill is the eighth-best player in Washington D.C. and shows plenty of upside with his size and strengths.

Listed at 6-foot, 200 pounds, Gill displays physicality and quality ball skills.

“Ever since I stepped on that campus, it felt like home,” Gill said.

3-star Teitum Tuioti, Edge Rusher

Local star Teitum Tuioti is the top ranked player in the state and the No. 52 best edge rusher nationally after moving from Nebraska when his father got hired by Lanning. He’s the son of Oregon defensive line coach Tony Tuioti.

Teitum showcased good instincts last season— as most coaches’ sons do— when he sniffed out a screen pass and intercepted it. At 6-foot-3, 220 pounds, Tuioti is fast off the edge, has a great motor and active hands. Prior to playing in the 2023 Polynesian Bowl, Tuioti will look to create his own legacy in his first season at Sheldon High School, where Ducks legend Justin Herbert attended.

3-star My’Keil Gardner, Defensive Line

My’Keil Gardner committed to the 2023 class on August 3. Gardner’s listed as the No. 5 ranked defensive lineman out west and the No. 11 in the state of Arizona.

With defensive linemen being such a commodity in the region, it was imperative for the staff to win this recruitment. The 3-star Liberty High School product will bolster the interior of Oregon’s defensive line with his 6-foot-2, 275 pound frame. He chose the Ducks over the University of Michigan, University of Wisconsin and University of Texas.

6

3-star Tevita Pome’e, Defensive Line | Duck Season 2022

This past season, Oregon head coach Dan Lanning led the Georgia Bulldogs’ defense, which relied heavily on a nose guard lining up in the middle of the defensive line.

So it’s no surprise to see an athlete who projects at this position committed to the Ducks.

Tevita Pome’e is a 3-star defensive linemen who’s ranked No. 54 at his position. The 6-foot-3, 315-pounder is the No. 6 ranked player in Utah, and like Tuioti is a Polynesian Bowl commit. Pome’e may anchor the Ducks’ future defensive lines as he’s stout against the run and can rush the passer indicated by his 53 tackles, seven tackles for a loss, 4 1/2 sacks and one fumble recovery last season.

4-star Tyler Turner, Safety

The Ducks have prioritized the talent in the lone star state as they’ve received three commitments thus far. One of the commits is four-star safety Tyler Turner out of San Antonio. Turner is the No. 62 ranked player in Texas and No. 33 ranked safety in the nation. His nine pass break ups, four forced fumbles and eight interceptions over the last two seasons reflects his range and ball hawk abilities.

Turner projects as a free safety at the next level as he exhibits quality awareness and physicality.

4-star Terrance Green, Defensive Line

Oregon dipped into Texas again when they received a commitment from four-star defensive lineman Terrance Green on Monday, August 1. Listed at 6-foot-5, 265 pounds, Green presents the prototypical size and length to play on the edge in Lanning’s defense. Green had a breakout performance against Shadow Creek High School when he posted four sacks and seven total tackles. His strong hands at the point of attack and disciplined eyes when taking on blockers are his strongest attributes.

Green looks to expand on his skill set for his final high school season.

4-star Kodi Decambra, Safety

Position versatility is desired by every program as it allows coaches to install a variety of schematic packages to confuse the opposition. There’s few players as versatile as the 29th ranked safety and No. 3 ranked prospect in Nevada — 4-star Kodi Decambra out of Bishop Gorman.

At six feet, 175 pounds, Decambra drives well on the ball and exhibits solid footwork, which comes as no surprise

since he’s a Nike Opening finalist and Poly Bowl commit.

Decambra capabilities project that he can play either safety position or in the slot as he displays good hip flexibility and speed in coverage.

pounds, Cozart, a track and field athlete, sports a personal bests of 10.74 seconds in the 100 meters and a 4.45 40yard dash. Cozart moves swiftly in and out of breaks when running routes and can take the top off defenses at will.

Hailing from Picayune, Mississippi is 4-star running back Dante Dowdell. The 2021 MaxPreps Mississippi Football Player of the Year is listed at 6-foot-1 1/2, 210 pounds and rushed for 2,554 yards and 28 touchdowns last season. Despite his stature, Dowdell exhibits solid breakaway speed, which makes sense given track and field is his secondary sport.

Dowdell excels as a powerful one-cut runner who’s difficult to tackle in the open field once he gets downhill.

The 247 composite rankings list him as the No. 215 player in the country and the No. 9 running back. Dowdell’s rare blend of size and athleticism will remind Ducks fans of former star Royce Freeman.

Four-star Caleb Presley (6’ 180 lbs) is the No. 107 rated prospect in the country, No. 11 rated corner, and No. 1 athlete in Washington. The former teammate of Ducks offensive tackle Josh Conerly Jr., Presley excels in all three facets of the game: offense, defense, and special teams (as a returner).

Presley plays aggressive with his hands and is a hard hitter. He exhibits excellent ball skills, instincts in coverage and twitch which indicates that he can be a lockdown corner for the Ducks. Tune into NBC on January 7 to watch him compete with the country’s best prospects in the 2023 All American Bowl.

4-star Dante Dowdell, Running Back

4-star Cole Martin, Cornerback

Like Tuioti, Oregon holds a commitment from another coach’s son, 4-star cornerback Cole Martin. The first commit in this class came just over a week after Lanning declared the hiring of cornerbacks coach Demetrice Martin. Ranked as a top-200 prospect nationally, the No. 17 ranked cornerback, and the No. 2 athlete in Arizona, Martin displays good play recognition and elusiveness. At 5-foot-10, 175 pounds, he doesn’t shy away from the run and plays very physically despite his smaller frame.

His 144 total tackles, three interceptions, six passes defended and two forced fumbles over his career reflect his combative playing style. Martin projects as an outside corner but he exhibits the quickness and tenacity to play in the slot as well.

4-star Ashton Cozart, Wide Receiver

The third commit from the Lone Star State is the highest rated of the trio and is a native of Burien, Washington. Four-star wide receiver Ashton Cozart flipped his commitment from the Oklahoma Sooners to the Ducks on May 22, giving wide receiver coach Junior Adams his sixth pledge since he arrived in Eugene, on January 3.

He’s the No. 21 ranked receiver in the nation and No. 26 rated athlete in Texas. Coming in at 6-foot-3 1/2, 181 Noah Sewell (1) pushes down Utes reciver, Solomon Enis (21), and continues running after making a interception. The Oregon Ducks take on the Utah Utes at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nev., on December 3, 2021. (Serei Hendrie/Emerald)

4-star Caleb Presley, Cornerback

4-star Jurrion Dickey, Wide Receiver

Four-star wide receiver Jurrion Dickey out of San Jose, California, is the No. 6 rated prospect in the state, No. 50 in the country, and No. 8 at his position. Dickey is a do-itall big body receiver who can run after the catch and win contested catches. The 6-foot-3, 210-pounder is another Poly Bowl commit who has great speed for his stature.

At two track meets hosted by Archbishop and Los Gatos High School, Dickey ran personal records of 11.33 in the 100m and 22.52 in the 200m. He posted a monstrous statline of 78 receptions, 1304 yards, 19 receiving touchdowns, two touchdowns on special teams, one rush touchdown, and four interceptions in 2021.The sky’s the limit once he can focus on one position in the future.

5-star Dante Moore, Quarterback

The crown jewel of this class is Detroit, Michigan 5-star quarterback Dante Moore. The 6-foot-2 1/2, 210-pounder is the No. 4 rated quarterback in the nation, No. 1 prospect in Michigan, an Elite 11 finalist and an All-American Bowl commit. Moore is the highest rated quarterback to commit to the Ducks and fourth-best recruit of all time.

A varsity starter since his freshman year, Moore exhibits elite intangibles with his fearlessness to stand in the pocket and deliver an accurate throw with a defender breathing down his neck. He’s very accurate and throws with great touch (72% completion percentage, 3,050 pass yards, 40 pass touchdowns and 3 interceptions). 247 elevated his ranking to second best quarterback in the class following his performances this offseason. “He rose to the occasion every time we saw him,” Chris Singletary of 247 Sports wrote.

Lanning and his staff have done an excellent job of recruiting nationally with commits from 10 different states. They look to augment those numbers by signing day in February. Oregon holds recruiting predictions for 4-star A’mauri Washington, 4-star Ja’Kobi Lane, 3-star Bryce Boulton and 3-star Jerry Mixon. It will be interesting to see if this staff closes on these guys as they continue to target elite recruits such as: David Hicks, Matayo Uiagalelei, Duce Robinson, Miles McVay, Blake Purchase among others.

Yellow Team’s, Seven McGee, gets set to catch the opening kickoff of the game. The Oregon Football team competes in it’s annual spring game on April 23rd, 2022 at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Ore. (Serei Hendrie/ Emerald)

Duck Season 2022 |

7

PLUMBING PLUMBING HOUSEWARES HOUSEWARES ELECTRICAL ELECTRICAL HARDWARE HARDWARE LAWN & GARDEN LAWN &TOOLS GARDEN TOOLS PAINT PAINT

2825 Willamette • Eugene, Oregon • 541-342-5191 2825 Willamette • Eugene, Oregon • 541-342-5191 8

|

Duck Season 2022

ROSTER ROSTER PREVIEW: PREVIEW: RUNNING RUNNING BACK BACK ROOM ROOM As fall camp begins, who will emerge MORE OPEN THAN EVER as the Ducks’ go to back?

MORE OPEN THAN EVER

BY JACK AARON The words “Oregon Ducks” and “running back” have almost become synonymous in the program’s history.

From the great Derek Loville in the late 1980s, to former head coach Chip Kelly’s backs LaMichael James, Kenjon Barner and Royce Freeman, the position has played an integral part in the success of Oregon football over the past decades.

With Travis Dye and C.J. Verdell — respectively the No. 5 and No. 6 leading rushers in program history — no longer with the team, there’s an obvious hole at the position. Dye and Verdell combined for over 6,000 rushing yards in their respective careers at Oregon. Someone will need to pick up where they left off.

Although the Ducks lost two starting running backs, it doesn’t mean the team is devoid of talent at the position. The team is bringing back former four-star recruits Byron Cardwell and Sean Dollars and added transfers Noah Whittington and Mar’Keise Irving.

Cardwell is the most likely candidate to become the Ducks’ primary back. The San Diego native played a part in a rushing offense that averaged 202.4 yards per game along with 2.5 touchdowns last season. He finished the season with 417 yards, three rushing touchdowns and an impressive 6.8 yards per carry. He wasn’t included much in the passing game, as he only hauled in four catches on the year.

“This offseason I’d say I’ve grown in every aspect,” Cardwell said.

“Just having the experience of my first year, carrying that into the offseason. Setting high standards for myself and not allowing myself to settle for average. Just in all aspects mental, physical, emotional, even the playbook, just all over getting better.”

Cardwell showcased his talent in last season’s matchup versus Washington State where he rushed for 98 yards and two touchdowns on only nine carries. This outstanding performance earned him Pac-12 Freshman of the Week honors.

The sophomore was recently named to the Doak Walker Award Watch List, given to the best running back in the nation. If Cardwell were to win, he would join James as the only Ducks to receive this honor. As of August 1, Cardwell sits atop the depth chart as the stand-in starter.

Second on the depth chart is an intriguing transfer, Noah Whittington.

Whittington ran for a total of 617 yards on 6.1 yards per rush, along with two touchdowns over 12 games.

The former Hilltopper was recruited as a wide receiver, and that’s obvious when looking at his tape from the past season. As a pass catcher, he tacked on 12 receptions for 58 yards.

His versatility in the passing game could lead to him being a major player in the backfield.

It’s worth mentioning that Oregon’s running backs coach Carlos Locklyn is familiar with Whittington from his own time at Western Kentucky.

“The year I was with [Coach Locklyn] at Western, he really developed me. Not as much as a running back, but as a person and a football player,” Whittington said. “[Oregon] offered me the opportunity to come here and compete and that’s what I’m here to do.”

Right behind Whittington on the depth chart is redshirt junior Mar’Keise Irving. The Minnesota transfer was a four-star recruit and the No. 5 running back out of Illinois in the class of 2020. On 133 attempts, Irving rushed for 699 yards and 4 touchdowns, making him the most productive back out of the bunch in 2021.

“It’s great because if you’ve got all good backs in the room it makes it even better to go out there and compete with the best guys in the country,” Irving said. “I don’t really pay attention to the depth chart, I just go out there and grind.”

Sean Dollars could also be an under-the-radar option. A stacked running back room in the past two years has prevented him

from showing his full potential — something that could change with Verdell and Dye vacating their locked down positions at numbers one and two on the depth chart. In 2019 and 2020, he rushed for 128 yards on 15 carries.

“I’m pretty hungry for this season,” Dollars said. “I feel like it was definitely a humbling experience from all angles but I also had an opportunity to learn from a lot of other people. I’ve had a lot of guidance coming up here these past few years.”

From being the number two allpurpose back in his class, Dollars has all the tools to become a star for this team.

There’s loads of talent in the running back room this year, which makes it seem like every back will get a chance to show what they have. If Dan Lanning learned anything about the running back position from his time at Georgia, it’s that there needs to be multiple backs who can play different roles out of the backfield.

What seems to be the most likely scenario is one where Cardwell will handle the first and second down duties. Irving and Whittington would take care of the third down back responsibilities — mainly as pass catchers. Dollars could also get some time as a third-down back if he stays healthy and integrates well in the new system. We’ll see which backs separate themselves in the coming weeks as fall camp has officially started.

Noah Whittington (22) celebrates with a teamate after running the ball for a touchdown. The Oregon Football team competes in it’s annual spring game on April 23rd, 2022 at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Ore. (Serei Hendrie/Emerald) Duck Season 2022 |

9

WHAT DOES GEORGIA BRING TO THE TABLE AGAINST THE DUCKS

BY JACOB HAMRE

It’s almost that time of the year.

College football is less than a month away, and for the Ducks, they have to get ready at a much quicker pace than usual.

In years prior, you would likely see the third and fourth-string guys getting action after halftime during these games with lesschallenging opponents falling by double-digits in a flash. Recently, there’s been a change. In 2019, instead of an opponent like Portland State, Oregon squared off against Auburn, starting a new tradition of early-season matches with elite opponents.

The Ducks ended up losing that game but they have a chance for redemption on September 3. The defending champs host their former defensive coordinator’s new team in what looks to be a must-see game.

Expectedly, the Bulldogs are rolling out with a different roster than last season, with many players from that team getting drafted in 2022.

Many missing pieces will be beneficial for the Ducks as they prepare for arguably their biggest game in recent history. The SEC powerhouse will be no easy task; many of their previous corps and added talent formulate a dangerous roster.

No matter who left in the offseason for Georgia, the one constant was that of the head coach.

Kirby Smart, who is entering his seventh season with the Bulldogs.

The dominant schemes that helped his team become one of the best defenses in the nation will be back with a different cast filling in the role.

Out of the 15 leading tacklers from a season ago, only five will return to Athens in 2022.

Highlighting those five is a nearcomplete secondary. Kelee Ringo is the lone returning corner and is set to have a dominant season. He ended 2021 with a championshipsealing pick-six and now takes over as the primary corner.

The rest of the defense took a big hit this offseason with five defenders being selected in the

10

|

Duck Season 2022

first round of last year’s draft alone. The departures of Trayvon Walker, Quay Walker, Jordan Davis, Devonte Wyatt and many more will make Oregon’s trip a little more manageable.

Oregon’s offensive line is arguably one of the most talented position groups on the roster. The Bulldogs will bring them their toughest matchup of the year with Nolan Smith returning for his senior season. Smith was the top-ranked recruit in the 2019 class, according to 247Sports. Much like recent Duck Kayvon Thibodeaux, Smith has been able to continue his prep school success at the collegiate level.

The outside linebacker put up nine tackles for loss last season and was named to the preseason watch list for the Bronko Nagurski trophy,

Ducks defensive end Kayvon Thibodeaux (5) pounds his chest in celebration. Oregon Ducks football takes on Utah for the Pac 12 Championship game at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif. on Dec. 6, 2019. (DL Young/Emerald)

given to the nation’s top defender.

The Bulldog offense lost some key players as well in the offseason. Both leading running backs were drafted and a handful of wide receivers either went pro or transferred. Georgia will not be joining the likes of Oregon, which began its season with a new quarterback at the helm.

Stetson Bennett comes back for his sixth year of college football, last clearly being his best. Bennett carried a 29-7 touchdown-tointerception ratio during his first full season as the Bulldogs’ starter.

He will likely be looking for Brock Bowers as his No. 1 target. At the tight end position, he led all Georgia players in receiving last season with 882 yards and 13 touchdowns.

we’ve got you covered.

20 22

COLOR SCHEDULE

09 10 09 17 09 24 10 01 10 08 10 22 10 29 11 05 11 12 11 19

UODuck Store.com

GREEN GEORGIA at Mercedes-Benz Stadium WEAR WEAR VS EASTERN WASHINGTON BLACK VS BYU WEAR YELLOW AT WASHINGTON STATE WEAR WHITE WEAR VS STANFORD GREEN AT ARIZONA WEAR WHITE VS UCLA WEAR PINK AT CALIFORNIA WEAR GREEN AT COLORADO WEAR GREEN VS WASHINGTON WEAR YELLOW WEAR VS UTAH GREEN AT OREGON STATE WEAR YELLOW

09 VS 03

11 26

Duck Season 2022 |

11

12

|

Duck Season 2022

2021 2021 FOOTBALL FOOTBALL HIGHLIGHTS HIGHLIGHTS The Oregon Ducks and the Arizona Wildcats lineup for the beginning of a play. The Oregon Ducks crush the Arizona Wildcats 41-19 in game four of the 2021 season. (Ian Enger/ Emerald)

Recent transfer quarterback Bo Nix shows off his skills in front of Duck fans for the first time. The Oregon Football team competes in it’s annual spring game on April 23rd, 2022 at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Ore. (Serei Hendrie/Emerald)

Ducks center back Cross Patton (22) hypes up the crowd before kick off. Ducks football take on the Washington State Cougars at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Ore., on Nov. 13, 2021. (Maddie Stellingwerf)

Anthony Brown Jr. (13) attempts to stiff arm an oncoming tackle to avoid a sack and a loss of yards. The Oregon Ducks take on the Utah Utes at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nev., on December 3, 2021. (Serei Hendrie/Emerald)

Duck Season 2022 |

13

2022 OREGON DUCKS OFFENSIVE PREVIEW Offense preps young players for a strong season

BY ELLIOTT DEINS Between a new head coach and offensive coordinator, a number of top performers transferring, declaring for the draft, or running out of eligibility, there are a lot of questions about Oregon’s offense ahead of the 2022 season. There are gaps to be filled, systems to be mastered and opportunities for young players to make a name for themselves.

Quarterback The end of eligibility for former starter Anthony Brown opened up a QB battle between Auburn transfer Bo Nix and redshirt freshman Ty Thompson to see who will start against Georgia in September.

Nix worked under Oregon’s newly-hired offensive coordinator, Kenny Dillingham, when he won 2019’s SEC Freshman of the Year. Nix has been criticized for decisionmaking under pressure, but has big game experience and victories under his belt. After his 2021 season ended with an ankle injury, Nix had a solid spring game and seems like he will be the starter in the fall.

Thomspon only lacks experience, throwing just 22 passes all of last season. The 5-star recruit is a dual threat and has a ton of raw potential and talent. A season learning and developing into Dillingham’s system should serve Thompson well.

Running Back Like quarterback, the running back position had big gaps to fill after losing Travis Dye, CJ Verdell and Trey Benson to transfers, or the NFL draft. There are a few young Ducks ready to capitalize on the opportunity.

Sophomore Byron Cardwell is large, strong, patient and shifty. As last year’s third-back, Cardwell averaged almost seven yards per carry and four touchdowns. The young Californian has the potential for a breakout year.

Sophomores Sean Dollars and Seven McGee both thought of leaving when former head coach Mario Cristobal announced he was leaving the program. Fortunately, both speedy backs decided to stay and play under new head coach Dan Lanning. Dollars is having a return season after an injury last spring caused him to miss the entirety of last season. McGee is a hybrid-back, often lining up as a receiver.

He will be a Swiss army knife for Dillingham’s system.

Tight End Underutilized by Cristobal, Oregon’s big blocking tight ends should be seeing a significant increase in catches, yards and touchdowns under Dillingham.

Six-foot-six sophomore and Colorado native Terrance Ferguson only had 17 catches all of last season, averaging eight yards per catch and two touchdowns. With the uptempo change in offensive play calling, Ferguson can expect to get more work in 2022.

Sophomore Moliki Matavao can also expect to be much more productive than last season, where he had nine catches for 75 yards and a touchdown.

If senior Cam Mccormick and redshirt sophomore Patrick 14

|

Duck Season 2022

Oregon player Noah Sewell (1) swifty changes directions during the Oregon’s game against Fresno State. The Oregon Ducks host Fresno State on September 4th, 2021, for game one of the 2021 season.

(Daily Emerald)

Herbert remain healthy, the tight end room can be one of the major factors in Oregon’s success for the 2022 season.

Wide Receivers The wide receiver position presents more opportunities for young players to showcase their skills. With the top three receivers from last year gone, it’s up to someone new to step in and make plays.

McGee is finally wearing number seven and listed as a receiver for this season. With speed, agility and toughness, McGee should see his number called more often under Dillingham.

Returning receiving leader, sophomore Kris Hutson had a phenomenal end to the 2021 season and will look to pick up where he left off in september.

Six-foot-five Dont’e Thorton only had nine catches last year, but two of them were for touchdowns. Thorton has bigplay-ability and will be chosen to perform more often during the 2022 season.

Troy Franklin, Isaah Crocker and Oregon legacy Chase Cota will round out the young receiver room. With the protection of a stellar offensive line and the expectation to air it out under Dillingham’s pro-style offense, there is going to be a lot of pressure for these young receivers to produce.

Offensive line The shining strength of the Oregon offense has to be the gigantic and full of experienced offensive line. With five returning monsters, the Ducks have one of the most highly touted O-lines in college football.

Butte College transfer TJ Bass started all 14 games last season for the Ducks and didn’t allow a sack at left guard.

Bass was selected first team All-Pac-12 for the 2021 season.

Junior Steven Jones stands six-foot-five and weighs 322 pounds. Jones played both right guard and right tackle during the 2021 season.

Hawaii native and Senior Maleasala Aumavae-Laulu declared for the NFL draft at the end of last season. After a talk with Lanning, he decided to stay at Oregon and play his final year.

As long as seniors Alex Forsyth and Ryan Walk can stay healthy, they are a force to be reckoned with in pass protection.

TAKE TAKE A A LOOK LOOK AT AT THE THE 2022 2022

FOOTBALL SCHEDULE SCHEDULE FOOTBALL

3 10

VS GEORGIA

(AWAY)

SEPT.

17

8

19 26

OCT.

SEPT.

VS EASTERN WASH.

(HOME)

NOV. VS ARIZONA

22

VS BYU

(HOME)

24 1

(HOME)

NOV.

OCT.

29

OCT.

SEPT.

VS UTAH

(AWAY)

5

VS UCLA (HOME)

2

VS OSU (AWAY)

DEC.

VS UC BERKLEY (AWAY)

PAC-12 CHAMPS (AWAY)

NOV.

SEPT.

VS WASH. STATE

(AWAY)

OCT.

(HOME)

LIMITEDTY TI QUAN ILABLE

(AWAY)

12

NOV.

VS STANFORD

VS CU BOLDER

VS UNIV. WASH. (HOME)

(Maddie Knight/Emerald)

“I became a firm believer that the Hayward Magic does exist.”

ASHTON EATON, TWO-TIME OLYMPIC CHAMPION

AVA

Foreword written by Andrew Wheating

ONLY $ 39.95

ORDER TODAY! dailyemerald.com/haywardbook

Celebrate Hayward Field’s Legends and Legacy Beautiful writing Dynamic images 140 pages Hardcover

SCAN NOW

Duck Season 2022 |

15

HERBIVORE HERBIVORE

HERBIVORE

CARNIVORE

CARNIVORE CARNIVORE

LOCAVORE LOCAVORE

LOCAVORE LOCAVORE

New Haven inspired apizza, pub brewed beer

HERBIVORE

CARNIVORE

530 BLAIR BLVD EUGENE 530 BLAIR BLVD EUGENE Thanks for voting us #1 Best Mexican Food!

LOCAVORE

(541)for 735-3520 TACOVOREPNW.COM Thanks voting us #1 Best Mexican Food!

(541) 735-3520 TACOVOREPNW.COM

530 BLVDEUGENE EUGENE 530BLAIR BLAIR BLVD

16

|

(541) 735-3520 (541) 735-3520

Duck Season 2022

TACOVOREPNW.COM TACOVOREPNW.COM